Norwich Castle

Norwich has long been an important, strategic location. When William the Conqueror reached East Anglia, he decided the city was the perfect location to set up a base. It is believed that almost 100 Saxon houses were demolished to make way for the original timber structure, built in 1067.

Around 1100 the basic timber structure was improved, with the motte heightened and the ditch deepened. Only 20 years later, Norwich became a Royal Palace and a stone keep was constructed.

What do Norwich Castle and The Tower of London have in common?

Both Norwich Castle and the Tower of London were constructed using Caen stone from Caen in France. Both structures were ordered by William to be built in the stone, imported from Northern France. The light creamy-yellow Jurassic limestone means the structures shine and can be seen for miles around.

Norwich Castle was originally constructed with a flint core and the Caen stone as cladding. Over the years the outer layer has been repaired using a range of materials including, most recently, Bath Stone in the 1830s.

Norwich Castle - Life in Jail

The castle's use as a palace soon reduced and in the 14th Century, the King gave the lands to be used as a prison. Originally, it is thought that prisoners were held in buildings around the keep, but were then moved into the stone building. At first they were held in rooms on the first floor of the keep, although by the 1700s the building had decayed so much they had to spend over £1000 to repair it to a suitable standard.

Towards the end of the 18th Century, cells were built within the Keep. This was then further extended in 1824 as there was not enough room for all the prisoners. This was ultimately the problem with the castle site; it would never be large enough for the numbers it needed to hold. In 1887 it was sold the city and new premises were built for the jail. This began the castle's final chapter.

Norwich Castle Museum

Since the 1890s, the castle has been a museum. The Castle Museum holds the world's largest collection of ceramic teapots, as well as the Margaret Fountaine butterfly collection, although these are not always on display. The castle is definitely worth a visit, if only to see the building itself. You can still see remains of the original Norman construction inside, with the original well being intact.

The castle also plays host to several touring exhibitions during the year. It is always worth checking what is coming up at the castle before you visit.